US7625014B2 - Dual fluid connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector includes a rear body portion and a front body portion. The front side of the rear body portion, and the front body portion disposed therearound, are for fluidly coupling to first and second sources of pressurized fluids in a co-axial manner. The rear side of the rear body portion is for fluidly coupling to first and second destinations of the pressurized fluids in an adjacent manner.

Description

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/847,180 filed Sep. 26, 2006.

FIELD

The present invention pertains to connectors used in lines for conducting fluid; more particularly the present invention pertains to a dual fluid connector.

BACKGROUND

In many different types of equipment, particularly medical equipment, multiple fluids are often used during medical procedures to treat patients. One example of such medical equipment is a vitrectomy system used for operations on the eye or eyes of a patient. In a fluid/gas exchange performed during a vitrectomy surgery, there is often a need for a source of pressurized retinal tamponading gases (i.e. C₃F₈and SF₆) as well as a need for a source of pressurized air.

Prior art connectors used to handle multiple fluids have presented several problems. Such problems include difficulty coupling the large number of tubes that conduct the pressurized fluids between their respective sources and destinations. This large number of tubes also necessitates a connector having a relatively large size. Accordingly, a need remains in the art for a small, simple connector that enables better management and connection of tubing used for such fluids.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a fluid connector that enables better management and connection of tubing used for medical or surgical fluids. The fluid connector has a rear body portion and a front body portion. The rear body portion has a rear side and a front side. The rear side has a center port and an off-center port, and the front side has a center projection with a center opening, a ring-shaped flange disposed around the center projection, and a ring-shaped channel defined by the center projection and the ring-shaped flange. The rear body portion also has a central passage extending through the rear body portion. The central passage originates at the center port and terminates at the center opening. The rear body portion also has an off-center passage extending through the rear body portion. The off-center passage originates at the off-center port and terminates at the ring-shaped channel. The front body portion is constructed and arranged for interfitment over the ring-shaped flange of the rear body portion and is for coupling with a manifold of a surgical console. The front body portion shrouds the center projection and further defines the ring-shaped channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A better understanding of the dual fluid connector of the present invention may be had by reference to the following drawing figures when read in conjunction with the following Description of the Embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the dual fluid connector of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded elevational view of the connector shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view from the rear of the connector shown inFIG. 1 showing the adjacent portals;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view from the front of the connector shown inFIG. 1 showing the concentric portals;

FIG. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the connector shown inFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosedconnector10 is described herein according to its use with a vitrectomy console. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand its applicability to other ophthalmic surgical consoles as well as a variety of different types of other medical equipment, such as equipment used by dentists or veterinarians, or still other equipment requiring the use of multiple fluids in a procedure enabled by the medical equipment.

The preferred embodiment of theconnector10 described herein is used in connection with a system for performing a fluid/gas exchange during vitrectomy surgery. A preferred system is described in more detail in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/855,198, filed Sep. 14, 2007, and entitled “Surgical Console”, which is commonly owned with the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. The disclosedconnector10 is fabricated from ABS plastic, and further includes two O-rings44,50 and anRFID tag99. TheRFID tag99 is captured inside of a sonic welded two part assembly. In use, the design of the disclosedconnector10 delivers pressurized gas, either C₃F₈or SF₆, through one internal passage and pressurized air through another internal passage.

As may be seen inFIG. 2 andFIG. 3A,connector10 has arear body portion20 with arear side22 and afront side24. Therear side22 of therear body portion20 has an opening orport26 for fluidly coupling with tubing for delivering pressurized air to one end of a consumable (i.e. syringe) used in a fluid/gas exchange, and an opening orport28 for fluidly coupling with tubing for delivering pressurized gas (i.e. C₃F₈or SF₆) to an opposite end of such a consumable. Bothopenings26,28 are protected by ashroud32. In the preferred embodiment, opening28 for the gas tube is located substantially on the center line of therear body portion20, and opening26 for the air tube is formed substantially adjacent to the opening28. In the preferred embodiment,gussets30 extend inwardly from theshroud32 and support the opening28 for the gas tube. The opening26 for the air tube is formed as part of theshroud32. Theshroud32 itself is supported by twogussets34 extending from theflange portion36 of therear body portion20.

As may be seen in the sectional view ofFIG. 4, on thefront side24 of therear body portion20 is an opening orport40 for the pressurized gas. This opening40 is located in aprojection42 extending from thefront side24 of therear body portion20. Surrounding the opening40 is an o-ring44 for fluidly sealing with aportion188 of a manifold189 of a vitrectomy console200.Portion188 is for delivering pressurized gas (i.e. C₃F₈or SF₆). A ring-shaped flange25 also extends fromfront side24 ofrear body portion20. Apassage46 for the pressurized air ends in a substantially ring-shaped channel48 defined byprojection42 and ring-shaped flange25. An o-ring50 is for fluidly sealing with aportion190 of manifold189.Portion190 is for delivering pressurized air.

As shown inFIGS. 2,3B, and4, mating to therear body portion20 is afront body portion60. Thefront body portion60 includes aflange62 which surroundsflange25 of therear body portion20. Captured between thefront body portion20 and therear body portion60 is a substantially ring-shaped RFID (radio frequency identification)tag99. Atrack engagement portion66 and aslot68 are formed as part of thefront body portion60 to facilitate connection toportion190 of manifold189. Ashroud portion70 protects theprojection42 and o-ring seals45 and50.

Referring back toFIG. 4, it may be seen that theRFID tag99 fits within arecess72 formed in theflange portion62 of thefront body portion60. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that therecess72 may also be formed in theflange portion36 of therear body portion20.

In operation,front body portion60 ofconnector10 is fluidly coupled to manifold189 of vitrectomy console200, and rear body portion is fluidly coupled to a consumable (i.e. syringe) for use in a fluid/gas exchange. More specifically, pressurized gas (i.e. C₃F₈or SF₆) fromportion188 of manifold189 is delivered toopening40. Pressurized air fromportion190 of manifold189 is delivered to ring-shapedchannel48 andpassageway46. Pressurized gas is delivered totubing172 viaopening28. One end oftubing172 is fluidly sealed withinopening28, and the other end oftubing172 is fluidly coupled to a first end of a syringe used for performing the fluid/gas exchange. Pressurized air is delivered totubing182 viaopening26. One end oftubing182 is fluidly sealed withinopening28, and the other end oftubing182 is fluidly coupled to the second end of the syringe.Tubing172 and182 are preferably socket bonded withinopenings28 and26, respectively, using an adhesive.

Both therear body portion20 and thefront body portion60 of the disclosedconnector10 are made of a moldable plastic suitable for use with medical equipment. Once molded, a first smaller o-ring44 is mounted within arecess45 formed inprojection42. A second, larger o-ring50 is inserted into arecess76 formed byflange25 andfront body portion60. TheRDIF tag99 is then inserted into therecess76 whenfront body portion60 and therear body portion20 are pushed together in an interfitting relationship.

The action of pushing thefront body portion20 andrear body portion60 together does several things. First, contact of theRFID tag99 with theflange36 on therear body portion20 holds theRFID tag99 in place. Second, when the outer surface of theprojection42 on therear body portion20 is slid into thelarger opening78 in thefront body portion60, aspace76 is formed which captures and positions the second or larger o-ring50. Third, theflange36 on therear body portion20 contacts theflange62 on thefront body portion60. This contact allows for sonic welding of theflange36 to theflange62. While sonic welding of therear body portion20 to thefront body portion60 is used in the preferred embodiment, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other attachment methods may be used such as adhesive, spin-bonding or heat without departing from the scope of the disclosed invention.

While the dual fluid connector of the present invention has been disclosed according to its preferred and alternate embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that yet other embodiments have been enabled by the foregoing disclosure. Such other embodiments shall be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A fluid connector, comprising:

a rear body portion having:

a rear side and a front side, the rear side having a center port and an off-center port, the front side having a center projection with a center opening and an annular groove for receiving an o-ring, a ring-shaped flange disposed around the center projection, and a ring-shaped channel defined by the center projection and the ring-shaped flange;

a central passage extending through the rear body portion, the central passage originating at the center port and terminating at the center opening;

an off-center passage extending through the rear body portion, the off-center passage originating at the off-center port and terminating at the ring-shaped channel;

a front body portion constructed and arranged for interfitment over the ring-shaped flange of the rear body portion and for coupling with a manifold of a surgical console, whereby the front body portion shrouds the center projection and further defines the ring-shaped channel;

the o-ring fluidly sealing with an interior surface of the manifold;

the ring-shaped flange and the front body portion defining a second annular groove for receiving a second o-ring; and

the second o-ring fluidly sealing with an exterior surface of the manifold.

2. The fluid connector ofclaim 1 wherein the manifold is for providing pressurized gas to the center opening and pressurized air to the ring-shaped channel.

3. The fluid connector ofclaim 2 wherein the pressurized gas is a retinal tamponading gas.

4. The fluid connector ofclaim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification tag disposed within the connector.

5. The fluid connector ofclaim 1 further comprising:

a first tubing having a first end fluidly sealed within the center port; and

a second tubing having a first end fluidly sealed within the off-center port.

6. The fluid connector ofclaim 5 wherein:

the first end of the first tubing is socket bonded within the center port; and

the first end of the second tubing is socket bonded within the off-center port.

7. The fluid connector ofclaim 6 wherein the socket bonding is accomplished via an adhesive.

8. A fluid connector system, comprising:

a fluid connector having:

a rear body portion having:

a rear side and a front side, the rear side having a center port and an off-center port, the front side having a center projection with a center opening, a ring-shaped flange disposed around the center projection, and a ring-shaped channel defined by the center projection and the ring-shaped flange;

a central passage extending through the rear body portion, the central passage originating at the center port and terminating at the center opening;

an off-center passage extending through the rear body portion, the off-center passage originating at the off-center port and terminating at the ring-shaped channel; and

a front body portion constructed and arranged for interfitment over the ring-shaped flange of the rear body portion, whereby the front body portion shrouds the center projection and further defines the ring-shaped channel; and

a manifold disposed within a surgical console having:

a first portion fluidly sealed to the center projection for providing pressurized gas to the fluid connector; and

a second portion fluidly sealed to the rear body portion and the front body portion for providing pressurized air to the ring-shaped channel.

9. The fluid connector system ofclaim 8 wherein:

the center projection has an annular groove for receiving an o-ring, and

the o-ring fluidly seals with an interior surface of the first portion of the manifold.

10. The fluid connector system ofclaim 9 wherein:

the ring-shaped flange and the front body portion define a second annular groove for receiving a second o-ring, and

the second o-ring fluidly seals with an exterior surface of the second portion of the manifold.

11. The fluid connector system ofclaim 8 wherein the pressurized gas is a retinal tamponading gas.

12. The fluid connector system ofclaim 8 further comprising a radio frequency identification tag disposed within the connector.

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